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Mostafa - PeerSpot reviewer
System Administrator at Suez Canal Insurance
Real User
Top 5
Windows 10

Microsoft has been closely watching the onslaught of this new ransomware epidemic and added a slew of new features to the second major update of Windows 10 which is called "Creators Update" — Win 10 CU for short — which has been rolling out for a few weeks, consumers first.

Presenting new anti-ransomware protection features added in Win 10 CU, Robert Lefferts, Director of Program Management, Windows Enterprise and Security, said that no Windows 10 customer was affected by the recent WannaCry ransomware outbreak that took place in mid-May and no currently known ransomware strain can infect Windows 10.

From a security perspective, CU is a massive improvement.

The new security features include the following list, apart from a host of non-security-related additions like a 3D version of MS Paint. :-)

  • Click-to-run for Adobe Flash in Edge — Prevents ransomware and other malware from landing on Windows 10 PCs via exploits kits and drive-by downloads.
  • Instant cloud protection via Windows Defender — According to Microsoft, starting with CU, Windows Defender AV can suspend a suspicious file from running and sync with the cloud protection service to further inspect the file.
  • Fast remediation mechanism at detection — Microsoft says it has made great strides to "remediate ransomware infection and limit ransomware activity from minutes to seconds, reducing its damage from hundreds of encrypted files to a few." Microsoft credits this to Windows Defender AV’s behavioral engine, which can aggregate malware behavior across processes and stages.
  • Improved detection for script-based attacks — Microsoft says its Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) was modified to intervene during the strategic execution points of JS or VBS script runtimes, two infection vectors often used by ransomware.
  • Wow64 compatibility scanning — In CU, Windows Defender AV added a process-scanning feature that uses the Wow64 compatibility layer, enabling it to better inspect system interactions of 32-bit applications running on 64-bit operating systems.
  • Process tree visualizations — Feature added to Windows Defender ATP, the commercial version of Windows Defender.
  • Artifact searching capabilities — Feature added to Windows Defender ATP.
  • Machine isolation and quarantine — feature added to Windows Defender ATP.
  • Windows Edge browser — better protection against remote code execution attacks.

Overall, your average user will probably not notice the difference.

Overall, it's a good update, but it stands out for its incremental tweaks and behind-the-scenes improvements to matters such as security, updates, and privacy, rather than for spectacular new features.

Obviously, you will not be able to roll this out immediately in your organization, despite the CU security improvements. Implementing CU is likely not a priority if you have just started to deploy Windows 10, and you might jump straight to the next major update, codenamed Redstone 3 which is due later this year.

The update is available to MSDN/TechNet subscribers running the Enterprise, Education, and IoT Core editions. Organizations that have Windows via the Volume License Service Center have been able to get the update since May 1st.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Mostafa - PeerSpot reviewer
MostafaSystem Administrator at Suez Canal Insurance
Top 5Real User

thanks Lea

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reviewer1032915 - PeerSpot reviewer
Technology Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Plenty of features, simple installation, but more hardware compatibility needed
Pros and Cons
  • "I have found most of the general features useful."
  • "The solution could improve hardware compatibility by being able to support the latest versions."

What is our primary use case?

I use Windows 10 primarily to run Microsoft Office.

What is most valuable?

I have found most of the general features useful.

What needs improvement?

The solution could improve hardware compatibility by being able to support the latest versions.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows 10 for approximately two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of this solution is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Windows 10 is scalable. 

We have approximately 3,500 people in my organization that use this solution.

We do not have plans to increase usage.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support from Microsoft is good.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is simple, it only takes a few hours.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing scheme could improve for Windows 10. There is an annual license required for the use of this solution.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Windows 10 s seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Windows 10
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Windows 10. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
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reviewer1704000 - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Information technologies systems department at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Easy to set up, quick to deploy, and has good performance
Pros and Cons
  • "We use Windows due to the fact that the system is good for us and for our information system."
  • "The interface could be more user-friendly."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily used the solution for our information systems.

What is most valuable?

The solution is okay. We use Windows due to the fact that the system is good for us and for our information system. 

The performance is good and it is stable.

The initial setup is very straightforward. The deployment is fast.

What needs improvement?

The interface could be more user-friendly.

For how long have I used the solution?

While I've used other iterations of Windows for about 15 years, for Windows 10, I have used it for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution offers us very good performance. The stability is very good. There aren't bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's a reliable system.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have 1,000 users on the solution.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We didn't use a different solution. We simply used an earlier version of Windows. 

How was the initial setup?

The installation is pretty straightforward and it's easy to set up. Without deployment, it only takes maybe ten minutes. It's a quick process.

For deployment, you likely only need one engineer.

What about the implementation team?

The process is so straightforward, you can handle it yourself. You don't need an integrator or consultant to step in and assist. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There are no licensing subscriptions needed for this product.

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.

I'd recommend the solution to other users and organizations.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Regional Operations Manager at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Easy to install and use
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is easy to use."
  • "I am not so happy with the performance"

What is our primary use case?

The solution is useful for running one's personal applications.

What is most valuable?

The solution is easy to use. We are very used to using Windows, starting from their 3.1 version. This is the only reason we stick with it. 

What needs improvement?

I am not so happy with the performance. All else is good, but the performance could be better. 

The user interface could be more interesting, more user-friendly. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. 

How are customer service and support?

I have not contacted tech support. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We only did upgrading. We used Windows 10 prior to Windows 7. 

How was the initial setup?

The solution came pre-installed. I have done installations of the earlier versions of Windows. This is easy.

The installation process lasted roughly an hour. 

What about the implementation team?

One can do the installation on one's own. My IT background allows me to handle it independently, but I believe this can be done by oneself even without such a background. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution came pre-installed on my computer, so I did not incur a licensing fee. 

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend the solution to others. 

I rate Windows 10 as an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1680546 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 201-500 employees
Real User
Stable and easy to use with good performance
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is very straightforward."
  • "We'd always be happier if the enterprise version was a little bit lower in price."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for everything. We just don't use any other version at the moment. For the last four, five years, we are just using this one version, Windows 10.

What is most valuable?

The performance of the solution is good. We have found the product to be stable. 

The interface is also good and it is very easy to use.

The initial setup is very straightforward. 

What needs improvement?

So far, the solution has been very good. I cannot recall coming across any missing features. There's nothing I would add at this time. 

We'd always be happier if the enterprise version was a little bit lower in price.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used the solution for four or five years now. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable and we have found the performance to be very good overall. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have close to 200 people using the solution at this time. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

For the last few years, we haven't used anything but Windows. We upgraded from Windows 7, which is what we used previously.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is pretty straightforward. It's not overly difficult or complex. A user shouldn't struggle to set it up.

In terms of deployment, you do need more people and more time if you have to do it in multiple geographical locations. In our case, we use around 10, and they cover our locations very well.

In terms of maintenance, just to look after the OS and all those things, we have a team of five.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

While we would always prefer a lower cost for licensing the product, for the kind of quality the software system is providing, I cannot complain. You get pretty good value.

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. We've been pretty happy with its capabilities.

I would recommend the solution to other users and organizations. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1558248 - PeerSpot reviewer
Global Head - Datacenters, Cloud and IT Core Services at a logistics company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Stable, easy to install, and has good support
Pros and Cons
  • "The technical support is fantastic."
  • "They need better upgrading. It is not updating for me at all."

What is our primary use case?

I use this solution mostly for running my personal applications.

What needs improvement?

Since I purchased this solution, the upgrades have stopped. They need to do something better when it comes to the upgrades.

They need better upgrading. It is not updating for me at all.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows 10 since it has been launched.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good. I have no issues with the stability of this solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have ten users in our company.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is fantastic.

How was the initial setup?

It was easy to install, it only took a couple of minutes.

A normal person could maintain this solution.

What about the implementation team?

I completed the installation myself. I did not need the help of an integrator or a consultant.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Licensing fees are paid yearly.

What other advice do I have?

I would definitely recommend this solution.

I would rate Windows 10 a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1305090 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at a renewables & environment company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Beneficial graphical interface, easy to use, and user friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is easy to use, user-friendly, and has a good graphical interface."
  • "The solution could improve by limiting the number of updates they have because while the update is happening there is a reduction in system performance. When attempting to work it is non-productive."

What is our primary use case?

I am using Windows 10 for running applications, such as ERP and cloud solutions.

What is most valuable?

The solution is easy to use, user-friendly, and has a good graphical interface.

What needs improvement?

The solution could improve by limiting the number of updates they have because while the update is happening there is a reduction in system performance. When attempting to work it is non-productive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows 10 since it was first launched.

How are customer service and technical support?

We had some issues with Windows 10 on a Microsoft Surface Pro. Windows 10 was not able to find the wireless hardware. We were in contact with the support regarding this issue and they have sent out a new product.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is a license required for the use of this solution and the cost is in the range of 10,000 to 12,000 rupees.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Windows 10 an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1469322 - PeerSpot reviewer
HR Operations Manager at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Easy to set up and customize with helpful technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "We've found the scalability to be good."
  • "Nowadays, everything needs to be online, which I do not prefer. I prefer a few files, few applications to be available offline without connecting to the cloud."

What is our primary use case?

We're primarily using the solution as an operating system.

What is most valuable?

I do prefer the dark mode. They did not have a dark mode on Windows 8 or XP.

The product offers very good customizations. 

The initial setup is straightforward. 

The stability is very good. 

We've found the scalability to be good.

Technical support is helpful.

What needs improvement?

Nowadays, everything needs to be online, which I do not prefer. I prefer a few files, few applications to be available offline without connecting to the cloud.

I don't like that Skype has been discontinued and so is Internet Explorer. Those kinds of things, things you are really comfortable with and do not have much of a footprint on your computer, those are getting eliminated.

I'd like them to work on building tools that take up less space, as I tend to work offline. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for a long time. I've used it since it was originally rolled out. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good and I find it to be a reliable OS. That said, at certain times it takes a lot of time to get those patches updated. That's every now and then, however, apart from that, it's fine.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

In terms of scaling, for us, it was pretty much a comprehensive rollout, so I don't see any problems there. The product can scale. 

How are customer service and technical support?

We've reached out to technical support in the past. We find Microsoft to be helpful and responsive. We are satisfied with their level of service. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

This is the only operating system I am using at the moment. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not difficult or complex. It's straightforward and simple. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I don't handle payment resolutions and therefore cannot speak to the licensing for this product. I'm not sure how much we pay or if we license it in monthly or yearly increments. 

What other advice do I have?

I'm just a customer and an end-user. I don't have a business relationship with Microsoft. 

I'm using the latest version of the solution at this time. 

Compared to previous Windows iterations, this is a great OS. 

I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows 10 Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows 10 Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.